News
Saturday, August 18, 2012
SC directs recovery of Rs 420m in NICL scandal
ISLAMABAD: Adjourning hearing of the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) corruption case, the Supreme Court on Friday gave two weeks to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for recovery of Rs 420 million related to corruption in the case. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the case. At the outset
of hearing, FIA Legal Director Azam Khan submitted an interim report pertaining to recovery of Rs 420 million in the case. Rejecting the contents of the report, the bench directed the FIA to show progress in the case by recovering the looted money. During the proceedings, acting Commerce Secretary Munir Qureshi told the bench that a joint secretary of
the ministry had found the appointment of Sardar Ayaz Khan Niazi as NICL
chairman lawful. Upon this, the chief justice said that prima facie the acting commerce secretary was defying the court’s orders. Qureshi soughtmore time to probe the matter relating to appointment of Niazi. The chief justice inquired from Khan what were the reasons that the FIA had failed to recover the looted amount. Over inquiry of the court, Khan told the bench that Waqar Haider was the FIA director Lahore. The court questioned whether it was Haider who stopped Qureshi from appearing before the bench.
The chief justice expressed anger over FIA’s performance and warned the officials concerned to become serious about the case. “It seems as if influential people are being protected,” he remarked. Khan further informed the bench that FIA director general had issued directives to the probing officer concerned to complete investigations. Later, the bench adjourned hearing of the case for two weeks. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk